The Schultz Perspective by Senator Jason Schultz

I receive many questions about my time in the Iowa Senate, including when we meet, where we work, and when we are done. I want to start the year with a basic legislative primer.

For each two years between general elections, the Iowa House and Iowa Senate members make up what is called the General Assembly (GA).  We are currently in the 91st GA.  Fifty senators serve four-year terms, meaning they are present for two General Assemblies per term.  100 House members are elected each general election, serving in a single GA at a time.  This gives the Legislature two different time perspectives.  Each Senate district contains two complete House districts, so each senator has two House members who attend the same forums and community events and are often partners in legislation between the two chambers.

The 2025 session of the Iowa Legislature began on January 13. The Iowa Constitution prescribes the beginning of the session to be the second Monday of January. The first year of a GA is set at 110 business days long, which puts the targeted final day on May 2, 2025. The second session is held in an election year and is set at 100 days long, usually ending around mid-April.

In states such as Iowa, the members of part-time legislatures have been referred to as citizen legislators.  That is because we each have jobs back home while taking time during sessions to work in the House and Senate.  We also attend community events and meetings throughout the year.  Iowa was innovative in keeping the Legislature part-time, as we can see the outcome of professional politicians working year-round in states such as California and Illinois.  Full-timers have all year to find a way to spend taxpayers’ money and over-regulate businesses and citizens. They are generally the worst-run, least financially stable states in the U.S.

Our weekly schedule reflects the citizen-legislator atmosphere.  Our week usually begins on Monday at noon so legislators can be home on Sunday night with their families.  The next three and a half days are filled with subcommittee, committee, and floor debate work.  Meetings on legislation are ongoing, and we welcome groups from home, such as FFA, Farm Bureau, Community Bankers, and RECs, to the Capitol almost daily.  Thursday is the last scheduled day of the week, and when committees and our work are done, we can head home.  Fridays are spent in the district, being available and keeping up with our errands and responsibilities.

Senate and House members receive a $25,000 salary, daily per diem for each business day of the session, and state health insurance.

Saturdays in our Senate district are punctuated by a weekly rotation of forum locations. The first Saturday is held in Ida County, the second is in Crawford County, the third is the Shelby County forum, and we finish the fourth Saturday in Carroll County. Rotations and times may vary. I suggest first calling the Chamber of Commerce or Development to find the time and location. They can help or point you to the forum host.

I’m incredibly grateful you let me work in the Iowa Senate for west-central Iowa.  It is an incredible experience.  The members of the two chambers are a very representative slice of Iowa.  We have good characters, bad characters, and everywhere in between.  We have wealthy and poor members—white-collar and blue-collar workers.  We have Christians and non-believers.  Every stage of adult life is present.  At the same time, my experience is that everyone is treated with the respect they deserve as a senator or representative, even when personalities don’t match up and disagreements erupt.  The focus falls on the position and not the person.  It makes sense when you are here long enough to realize you may need that senator or representative on your side on the next issue.  Relationship bridges are expensive here, and you don’t burn them lightly.